Indian ArmyTrishakti Corps has launched Sikkim’s first border village community radio station, “Sikkim Sundari”. Officials said the move is aimed at improving communication and access to information in remote high-altitude areas.According to the Defense PRO, the station will broadcast local news, weather updates and information on government schemes, and will also serve as a platform to promote local culture and encourage youth participation.This will provide opportunities for local youth to develop communication skills and participate in community engagement.“This initiative will help connect communities, amplify local voices and support development in remote areas,” a senior Army officer was quoted as saying by PTI.The radio station was inaugurated in the presence of senior officers of Trishakti Corps, representatives of the civil administration and members of the local community.Meanwhile, Additional Director General, Border Roads (East), Jitendra Prasad visited the landslide-affected area in Taramchu in North Sikkim to review the ground situation.According to the Defense PRO, he assessed the damage and interacted with Border Roads Organization personnel deployed at the site. As ANI reported, he also reviewed the ongoing restoration work and directed officials to expedite efforts to reopen the route as soon as possible.During the visit, Prasad inspected the progress of work and reiterated the organisation’s focus on restoring and maintaining connectivity in the region, noting the importance of road connectivity for local communities and access to border areas.
रुद्रप्रयाग। विकासखंड अगस्त्यमुनि के बड़ाव गांव से पिछले आठ दिन से लापता चार वर्षीय मासूम मयंक का शव रविवार को उसके घर से करीब डेढ़ किमी दूर मान सेमर मल्ला में मिला।
20-year-old Ayush Shetty’s heroic performance at the Badminton Asia Championships came to an end on Sunday, April 12. Playing the men’s singles final against world No. 2 Shi Yu Qi, Ayush faltered in straight games, losing 8-21, 10-21 in just 41 minutes to settle for a silver medal in his maiden BAC campaign.
Ayush chased the game for most of the contest due to Shi Yu Qi’s control of the rally and his ability to play the right shots at the right time. The 30-year-old Chinese shuttler won her first Badminton Asia Championships title with a spectacular performance in the final.
With the Asian title in hand, Shi Yue Qi has now added to her World Championship title tally, underscoring her status as one of the most complete players on the circuit at the moment.
Shi Yu Qi (centre) posing with her gold medal at the BAC. (Badminton Asia Photo)
However, the result should not take away from the tournament Ayush has produced. The 20-year-old made one of the most impressive runs in recent Indian men’s singles history, defeating World No. 7 Li Shi Feng in the opening round, World No. 20 Chi Yu Jen in the second, World No. 4 Jonathan Christie in the quarter-finals. and World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the semi-finals. For a player in his maiden Badminton Asia Championships campaign, it was a great run.
In the final, Ayush had to come on the back foot right from the beginning. Shi’s accuracy around the net and her ability to read drifts ensured that she controlled the front court exchanges, leading 11–6 at the mid-game interval in the first game. From there, he increased the tempo, mixed up his angles and ended rallies with sharp cross-court smashes to end the game 21–8.
Ayush never recovered from that start.
The second game briefly painted a different picture. Operating from the slower part of the court, Ayush tightened her defense and began to meet Shea’s aggressive shots with more consistency. The Chinese player made mistakes at that stage, which helped Ayush take a 7-2 lead and signal a possible comeback.
But the window was small. Xi quickly recalculated, downplaying unforced errors and expanding rallies to find fault with Ayush. His versatility, especially in controlling speed and direction, changed the pace. The 7-2 lead soon dropped to 8-11 at halftime.
From there, the gap only widened.
Ayush tried to force the case with his aggressive shots to break the rhythm, but Shea’s defensive tenacity remained intact. Rallies began to lean one way and the Indians’ mistakes came under pressure. The second game ended 21–10, completing a very one-sided final in terms of scoreline if not tries.
The nature of the loss does not change the week’s big gains. The Badminton Asia Championships is one of the most competitive events on the calendar, often featuring a deeper field than even some World Tour events. Despite being a world champion and former world No. 1, it took Xi more than a decade to win the title.
For Ayush, this was the first final at this level, and the difference was clearly visible.
At the same time, the tournament has placed him firmly in the conversation at the top of the men’s singles. with Early exit of players like Lakshya Sen And PV Sindhu, it was Ayush who took India’s challenge to a draw. His ability to defeat four consecutive top-20 players highlighted both his physical ability and his composure under pressure.
It is also expected that this run will propel him into the top 20 of the world rankings, an important milestone at this stage of his career. With the BWF World Championships being held in India later this year, the country could have a number of men’s singles players in that bracket, which will strengthen its medal chances.
At present, Ayush left with the silver. But more importantly, he leaves with proof that he belongs at this level.
Vice President of the United States J.D. Vance said on Saturday that the President donald trump While he and his team were busy in peace talks with Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan, he was called “a dozen times”.Speaking to reporters, Vance said, “We were constantly talking to the President. I don’t know how many times we spoke to him – half a dozen times, a dozen times in the last 21 hours.“Vance said, “We were in constant contact with the team as we negotiated in good faith. And we’re leaving with a very simple offer here, as a way to understand that this is our final and best offer.”Talks between America and Iran are currently at a standstill after no agreement was reached. According to Vance, the main controversy remained Iran’s nuclear program.The vice president called on Iran to shut down its program and stop uranium enrichment, calling it a “red line” for the Trump administration.“The simple fact is that we need to see a positive commitment that they will not seek nuclear weapons and that they will not seek equipment that would enable them to quickly acquire nuclear weapons,” Vance said.He said this is “the main goal of the President (Donald Trump)” and that is what he has tried to achieve through negotiations.Vance told reporters, “But the simple fact is that we need to see a positive commitment that they will not seek nuclear weapons, and they will not seek equipment that would enable them to quickly acquire nuclear weapons.”Meanwhile, Iran said the demands made by the US are “unreasonable” and blamed the US for the failure of the talks.“Before the talks, I stressed that we have the necessary goodwill and will, but because of the experiences of the last two wars, we have no confidence in the opposing side,” Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on Twitter.He said the Iranian delegation took constructive initiatives, “but in this round of talks the other side was unable to gain the confidence of the Iranian delegation.”He said, “America has understood our logic and principles and now the time has come for it to decide whether it can earn our trust or not.”Iran has long denied seeking nuclear weapons but has insisted on its right to a civilian nuclear program. Experts say its rich uranium reserves, though not weapons-grade, are only a small technological step away.Since the US and Israel launched the war on February 28, at least 3,000 people have been killed in Iran, 2,020 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states, and there has been permanent damage to infrastructure in half a dozen Middle Eastern countries. Iran’s hold on the Strait of Hormuz has largely cut off the Persian Gulf and its oil and gas exports from the global economy, driving up energy prices.Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said his country would try to facilitate a new dialogue between Iran and the US in the coming days.“It is important that the parties maintain their commitment to the ceasefire,” Dar said.The standoff – and Vance’s ‘take it or leave it’ proposal that Iran end its nuclear program – mirrors nuclear talks in Switzerland in February. Although President Donald Trump has said the subsequent war was aimed at forcing Iran’s leaders to abandon nuclear ambitions, each side’s positions appeared unchanged in talks after six weeks of fighting.
यूपी की राजनीति: उत्तर प्रदेश में बीजेपी संगठन में बदलाव को लेकर हलचल तेज हो गई है. रविवार को पार्टी के राष्ट्रीय महासचिव विनोद तावड़े लखनऊ पहुंचे और पार्टी कार्यालय में बैठकों का दौर शुरू हो गया. आगामी संगठनात्मक बदलाव और नई टीम के गठन को लेकर ये बैठकें अहम मानी जा रही हैं. पार्टी के वरिष्ठ नेताओं के साथ अलग-अलग बैठकें कर जमीनी स्थिति का आकलन किया जा रहा है. सूत्रों के मुताबिक, इन बैठकों के आधार पर जल्द ही उत्तर प्रदेश बीजेपी की नई टीम और राजनीतिक नियुक्तियों पर फैसला लिया जा सकता है.
बड़े नेताओं से मुलाकात, प्रदेश अध्यक्ष भी जाएंगे दिल्ली लखनऊ पहुंचकर विनोद तावड़े ने प्रदेश अध्यक्ष पंकज चौधरी, संगठन मंत्री धर्मपाल सिंह और डिप्टी सीएम ब्रजेश पाठक से मुलाकात की. बैठक के बाद पंकज चौधरी दिल्ली के लिए रवाना हो गए हैं, जहां वह केंद्रीय नेतृत्व से मुलाकात करेंगे. देर शाम तक तावड़े की डिप्टी सीएम केशव प्रसाद मौर्य से भी मुलाकात होने की संभावना है. इसके अलावा सोमवार को मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ से उनकी मुलाकात तय मानी जा रही है.
महिला मंत्रियों से भी मुलाकात की तैयारी सूत्रों के मुताबिक, महिला मंत्रियों को भी पार्टी दफ्तर बुलाया गया है. उनसे नारी शक्ति वंदन अभियान को लेकर चर्चा हो सकती है. इस दौरान पूर्व सांसद हरीश द्विवेदी भी कार्यालय में मौजूद रहे। बताया जा रहा है कि विनोद तावड़े सोमवार को भी लखनऊ में रहेंगे और राज्य के जमीनी हालात पर रिपोर्ट तैयार करेंगे.
तीन साल बाद संगठन में बदलाव की तैयारी पार्टी सूत्रों का कहना है कि बीजेपी के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष नितिन नबीन की नियुक्ति के बाद राज्यों में भी नई टीमों के गठन की प्रक्रिया शुरू हो गई है. इसी रणनीति के तहत उत्तर प्रदेश में करीब तीन साल बाद संगठन में बदलाव की तैयारी की जा रही है. तावड़े जब लखनऊ पहुंचे तो प्रदेश नेतृत्व ने भी उनका स्वागत किया.
2027 में दोबारा सरकार बनाने का दावा इस मौके पर डिप्टी सीएम ब्रजेश पाठक ने कहा कि बीजेपी में ऐसी बैठकें सामान्य प्रक्रिया का हिस्सा हैं. उन्होंने कहा कि प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी की योजनाओं को जन-जन तक पहुंचाया जा रहा है और मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ के नेतृत्व में कानून व्यवस्था मजबूत हुई है. उन्होंने दावा किया कि 2027 में बीजेपी फिर से भारी बहुमत से सरकार बनाएगी. समाजवादी पार्टी प्रमुख अखिलेश यादव पर निशाना साधते हुए ब्रजेश पाठक ने कहा कि सत्ता इच्छा से नहीं, बल्कि जनता के आशीर्वाद से मिलती है. उन्होंने महिला आरक्षण के मुद्दे पर भी विपक्ष पर सवाल उठाए.
an easter armistice between Vladimir Putin And Volodymyr Zelensky The case was swiftly resolved on Sunday, when both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of thousands of violations, despite a temporary pause in the fighting for the Orthodox holiday.The 32-hour ceasefire ordered by Moscow from Saturday evening was presented as a humanitarian gesture, with Kiev agreeing to abide by it and warning it would respond to any violations. However, within hours, both sides reported continued hostilities along about 1,200 kilometers of the border line, underscoring the fragility of such agreements in a war now in its fifth year.
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Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that Ukrainian forces committed 1,971 violations during the ceasefire, including artillery fire, tank attacks and more than a thousand drone strikes. It also accused Kiev of attempting several advances on the front, all of which it said were thwarted. Ukraine, in turn, reported even higher figures, saying it had recorded 2,299 violations, including dozens of strike operations, hundreds of shellings and widespread drone activity.Despite the allegations, there were signs of limited peace. Ukrainian officials said there were no long-range missile attacks or large-scale aerial bombardments during the ceasefire, a notable change from the almost daily barrages seen in recent months. In some parts of the front, soldiers described conditions as relatively calm, allowing some to attend Easter services in rare moments away from the battle.Nevertheless, Ukrainian officials said Russian drone attacks continued in several sectors, even where artillery fire had reduced. Kiev said it was responding proportionately, matching “silence with silence and fire with fire”.The ceasefire was followed by a renewed ceasefire but diplomatic efforts have stalled, including US-backed talks that have failed to produce any breakthroughs. While the Kremlin described the ceasefire as a step toward a comprehensive solution, it reiterated its long-term demands, particularly on the region, which are unacceptable to Ukraine.The deadly surge was followed by a brief pause. Civilians were killed in cities including Odessa and Kherson in Russian drone attacks just hours before the ceasefire was to begin, while both sides reported intercepting large numbers of incoming drones overnight.
New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday accused the Center of carrying out the delimitation exercise to divide the state into three parts.Addressing election rallies in Chhatna and Onda in West Bengal’s Bankura district, Mamata said parts of West Bengal could be merged into Bihar and Odisha, and Bengalis living in those areas would face difficulties as a result.
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Bhawanipur fight: Is Mamata Banerjee’s bastion under pressure from SIR?
Mamata said, “BJP is planning to bring a delimitation bill to divide West Bengal into three parts. It can merge some parts of West Bengal with Bihar or Odisha and commit atrocities on Bengalis there.”Mamata also alleged that the BJP has made a deal worth Rs 1,000 crore to remove the Trinamool Congress from power in the state.He made an apparent reference to a viral video of Aam Janata Unnayan Party chief Humayun Kabir, in whom he was reportedly heard saying that he was in close touch with BJP leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, to remove Mamata from power and that he had received Rs 200 crore as advance payment for a Rs 1,000 crore deal to split minority votes to defeat TMC.“They (BJP) have made a deal worth Rs 1,000 crore to remove TMC from power in West Bengal,” the party supremo said.He also alleged that the central forces deployed in the state for the upcoming elections were “insulting” women in the name of searches.The CM also claimed that he was not allowed to hold the rally despite space being available, while immediate approval was given for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s gathering.He also accused the BJP of bribing voters before the elections and called the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists the “biggest scam in the country” in recent times.He said, “SIR is the biggest scam the country has seen in recent times. Everyone in the world knows that your government will fall in 2026. We will then repeal all the anti-people laws brought by your government.”He said, “BJP bribes voters before elections. But soon after the voting is over, they forget their promises. This was seen in the Bihar elections,” Mamata said.The TMC chief further alleged that the BJP would try to manipulate the voting process to win the elections and urged people to remain alert and keep an eye on the voting machines.Banerjee said, “Be cautious about voting machines. BJP has planned slow voting and slow counting. Foil all their plans.”He also alleged that the BJP was planning to give “spicy tea and sweets” to people to “loot votes”.“They are planning to give you intoxicating tea and sweets, after eating which you will fall asleep and they will loot your votes… be careful,” he said.He also questioned the BJP’s election promise of filling vacant posts in government departments and asked, “What happened to his (Modi’s) promise of giving 2 crore jobs to the youth?”
पुरकाजी कैबिनेट मंत्री ने विधानसभा क्षेत्र के अंतर्गत ग्राम रामपुर में विधायक निधि से बनी नई सीसी रोड का उद्घाटन किया अनिल कुमार फीता काटकर किया गया। इस अवसर पर आयोजित कार्यक्रम में बड़ी संख्या में ग्रामीण मौजूद रहे और क्षेत्र में विकास कार्यों को लेकर सकारात्मक माहौल देखने को मिला.
मंत्री ने कहा कि इस सड़क के निर्माण से गांव के लोगों को आवागमन में बड़ी राहत मिलेगी और स्थानीय स्तर पर आर्थिक एवं सामाजिक गतिविधियों को भी बढ़ावा मिलेगा.
प्रदेश में कानून व्यवस्था को लेकर सरकार की उपलब्धियां गिनाईं
कार्यक्रम के दौरान मंत्री अनिल कुमार ने राज्य की कानून-व्यवस्था को लेकर सरकार की प्राथमिकताओं का जिक्र करते हुए कहा कि मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ उनके नेतृत्व में अपराध एवं गुण्डागर्दी पर प्रभावी नियंत्रण स्थापित हुआ है। उन्होंने कहा कि आज प्रदेश में महिलाएं और बेटियां पहले से अधिक सुरक्षित माहौल महसूस कर रही हैं।
उन्होंने यह भी कहा कि कानून व्यवस्था को मजबूत करने से विकास योजनाओं को जमीन पर तेजी से लागू करने में मदद मिली है.
बिना भेदभाव के विकास कार्यों को सरकार की प्राथमिकता
अपने संबोधन में मंत्री ने कहा कि राज्य सरकार सभी वर्गों को साथ लेकर विकास की दिशा में काम कर रही है. उन्होंने स्पष्ट किया कि सरकारी योजनाओं का लाभ बिना किसी धार्मिक या सामाजिक भेदभाव के पात्र लोगों तक पहुंचाया जा रहा है।
उन्होंने विश्वास जताया कि आने वाले समय में भी विकास की यही गति जारी रहेगी और क्षेत्रीय जरूरतों को प्राथमिकता के आधार पर पूरा किया जाएगा।
2027 में बीजेपी-आरएलडी गठबंधन की सरकार बनने का भरोसा जताया
राजनीतिक संदर्भ पर बोलते हुए अनिल कुमार ने कहा कि राज्य में विकास और सुशासन के दम पर जनता का समर्थन लगातार बढ़ रहा है. उन्होंने विश्वास जताया कि वर्ष 2027 में एक बार फिर प्रदेश में भाजपा-रालोद गठबंधन की सरकार बनेगी।
उन्होंने कहा कि सरकारी योजनाओं का लाभ गांव-गांव तक पहुंच रहा है, जिससे जनता का विश्वास और मजबूत हुआ है।
-नेताजी सुभाष चंद्र बोस की प्रतिमा के सौंदर्यीकरण की घोषणा
कार्यक्रम के दौरान मंत्री मो सुभाष चंद्र बोस साथ ही प्रतिमा के सौंदर्यीकरण और जीर्णोद्धार की भी घोषणा की। उन्होंने कहा कि ऐतिहासिक एवं प्रेरणादायी व्यक्तित्वों से जुड़ी स्मृतियों को संजोकर रखना समाज की जिम्मेदारी है।
इस घोषणा का स्थानीय लोगों ने स्वागत किया और इसे क्षेत्र के लिए एक सकारात्मक पहल बताया।
ग्रामीणों की मांग पर टूटी सड़क व स्ट्रीट लाइट की समस्या पर संज्ञान लिया गया.
कार्यक्रम के दौरान ग्रामीणों ने मंत्री के समक्ष तेजस फार्म के पास क्षतिग्रस्त सड़क का पुनर्निर्माण कराने तथा स्ट्रीट लाइट लगाने की मांग रखी. मंत्री ने मौके पर पहुंचकर जलजमाव से प्रभावित सड़क का निरीक्षण किया और शीघ्र समाधान का आश्वासन दिया.
उन्होंने संबंधित अधिकारियों को आवश्यक कार्यवाही सुनिश्चित करने के भी निर्देश दिये।
सार्वजनिक सेवा के 20 वर्षों का अनुभव साझा किया
अपने संबोधन में मंत्री अनिल कुमार ने कहा कि वे पिछले दो दशकों से लगातार क्षेत्र की सेवा कर रहे हैं और उनका लक्ष्य हमेशा विकास कार्यों को प्राथमिकता देना रहा है. उन्होंने यह भी बताया कि वह मुजफ्फरनगर से तीन बार विधायक चुने जाने वाले अनुसूचित जाति वर्ग के पहले प्रतिनिधि हैं और वर्तमान में कैबिनेट मंत्री के रूप में कार्यरत हैं।
उन्होंने कहा कि क्षेत्र के विकास के लिए लगातार प्रयास जारी रहेंगे.
स्थानीय जन प्रतिनिधियों एवं ग्रामीणों की सक्रिय भागीदारी
कार्यक्रम की अध्यक्षता गजराज सिंह ठाकुर ने की, जबकि संचालन वरिष्ठ पत्रकार श्यामवीर शर्मा ने किया. इस मौके पर ग्राम प्रधान विनोद शर्मा, जयपाल भगतजी, पप्पू शर्मा, सोनू त्यागी, राजवीर सिंह, वीरसेन और अनिल त्यागी समेत कई ग्रामीण मौजूद रहे।
ग्रामीणों ने नई सड़क के निर्माण को क्षेत्रीय विकास की दिशा में महत्वपूर्ण कदम बताया.
रामपुर गांव में सीसी रोड के उद्घाटन के साथ ही क्षेत्र में बुनियादी ढांचे को मजबूत करने की दिशा में एक और महत्वपूर्ण पहल जुड़ गई है। ग्रामीणों की मांगों पर त्वरित संज्ञान और भविष्य की विकास योजनाओं की घोषणा से स्थानीय स्तर पर उम्मीदें बढ़ गई हैं कि आने वाले समय में क्षेत्रीय सुविधाओं का विस्तार तेज गति से होगा।
Bihar is making renewed efforts to secure GI tags for its unique agricultural products, Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU) vice-chancellor PS Pandey told STOI’s BK Mishra in an interview, adding that rigorous scientific documentation and strong producer organizations are necessary to expedite the process. Part:
What are the main reasons for Bihar not getting GI tag on its unique products and artefacts?The primary obstacle has been the lack of rigorous scientific and historical documentation. The GI tag requires extensive proof that a product’s distinctive characteristics are closely linked to its specific geography, climate and traditional practices. In Bihar, most of our traditional knowledge remained oral and unwritten.Additionally, GI tags are given to producer groups or associations, not individuals. The absence of organized cooperative structures among farmers and artisans made it difficult to file legal claims. There was also a significant awareness gap; Many stakeholders were unaware that their local products, such as unique varieties of rice or hand-woven textiles, held considerable intellectual property value that required legal protection to thrive in competitive global markets.What is RPCAU What are you doing to increase the number of GI tagged products?RPCAU is acting as the “technical and legal anchor” for the heritage products of Bihar. We recently celebrated a big milestone when Marcha rice (Maricha paddy) from West Champaran received GI tag exclusively under our technical guidance and facility.Beyond research, we have entered into strategic partnerships including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Great Mission Consultancy Group, Pune to provide a formal framework for identification and registration of potential products. We are currently working on the scientific characterization of several indigenous varieties and documenting their DNA profiling and biochemical properties to meet the stringent requirements of the GI Registry.By creating Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), we are providing local communities with the legal personality needed to hold and manage these coveted tags.What is the importance of GI tag? Does it benefit the people of a particular area?GI tag is essentially a certificate of origin that provides legal protection against unauthorized use. Its importance is threefold: economic, legal and cultural. This can be transformative for the people of Bihar. This eliminates brand hijacking, where substandard products from other regions are sold under Bihar’s famous names.Economically, this allows farmers to receive premium prices – often 20% to 50% higher than non-tagged varieties – because global consumers are willing to pay for authenticity. For example, recognition of Mithila Makhana or Shahi Litchi has opened up direct export channels, reducing farmers’ dependence on exploitative middlemen. This creates a “Brand Bihar” identity, fosters a sense of pride and ensures that the economic benefits of the region’s heritage remain within the community.How should farmers and other stakeholders be made aware of the benefits of obtaining GI tag for their products?Awareness should extend from the seminar hall to the farm gate. We are using our Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) to conduct workshops at the grassroots level in local dialects, explaining the GI tag as “Aapki Mitti Ki Pehchan” (Identify Your Soil).Stakeholders should see concrete success stories, such as West Champaran farmers getting better markets for Marcha rice. We are also advocating for digital traceability; When a farmer realizes that a QR code on his produce can inform buyers about its origin, the value of the GI tag becomes self-evident.any other suggestions?We need to invest in dedicated GI-branded processing units and cold chains to maintain the quality of GI-tagged products. Integration of agri-tourism with GI products can be a game changer. A “Litchi Trail” in Muzaffarpur or a ‘Makhana Circuit’ in Mithila can be developed, where tourists will visit the place of origin, see traditional harvesting and buy the authentic product.We must also establish strict quality control centers to ensure that any product bearing the GI logo meets the highest standards.
Ugandan army chief Muhoozi Kainrugaba has sparked a diplomatic controversy after demanding $1 billion from Turkey as well as the country’s “most beautiful woman”, while threatening to break ties if his conditions were not met.In a series of posts on Twitter on Saturday, Kainrugaba said the payment should serve as a “security dividend” for Uganda’s military role in Somalia, where its troops have been involved in the African Union mission against the Islamic militant group al-Shabaab. “In addition to the $1 billion I got from Türkiye, I want the most beautiful woman from that country as my wife!” he wrote in a now-deleted post, which has since gone viral.He warned that failure to comply within 30 days could lead to the severance of diplomatic relations between Uganda and Turkey, including the closure of the Turkish embassy in Kampala and a ban on Turkish Airlines. “It’s really a simple deal for Turkey… either they pay us or I close their embassy here. They can also close our embassy in Turkey in return. No problem,” he said, adding, “If Turkey doesn’t solve our problems, we will break our diplomatic relations within 30 days.”Kainrugaba also accused Ankara of profiting from infrastructure and operational deals in Mogadishu while Uganda bore the burden of security in fighting terrorists for nearly two decades. He described bilateral relations as “severe” and advised Ugandans to avoid traveling to Turkey “for their own safety”.The general, who is the son of President Yoweri Museveni, also expressed support for Israel in the same set of posts, saying, “I am ready to deploy 100,000 Ugandan soldiers to Israel under my command, to defend the Holy Land, the land of our Lord Jesus Christ.”This is not the first time Kainrugaba’s public comments have attracted attention. In 2022, he offered Italy 100 Ankole cows in exchange for marrying its Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and threatened to occupy Rome if the offer was rejected. The comments led to an apology from President Museveni, who had criticized his son for interfering in the affairs of other countries.That same year, Kainrugaba also threatened military action against Kenya, comments that led to his temporary removal from his post and a formal apology from the Ugandan government.There was no immediate reaction from Turkish or Somali officials on the latest statements. Ugandan officials also did not clarify whether the comments reflected official policy or Kainrugaba’s personal views.
